Railway-traffic-controlling system



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,561,962

G. c. WHITNEY RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed March 27, 1922Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

V i,561,9ez

PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT C. WHITNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 27, 1922. Serial No. 547,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT G. IVHIT- NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Tratlic-Controlling Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to railway traffic controlling systems and hasfor its object in general to provide .means to increase the safety oftraflic, simplifying the controlling circuits and devices and thereduction in the use of contacts in the controlling means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means whereby equivalentcontactor devices now generally located on the track structure andconsequently subject to excessive wear, due to vibration, may be placedapart therefrom and controlled with greater reliability and safety. 7

A still further 'Ob'ect is to incorporate means in the system to detectan undue movement or expansion in the longitudinal, as well as lateraldirection in the track rails of a track switch.

The foregoing and other objects and features will appear more fully asthe description progresses.

The established practice in this art requires that information, as tothe position and condition of track switches, that is, whether theswitch is fully set in one position or another or in some intermediateposition be given to an approaching train and said information isgenerally conveyed to the engineman or motorman by means of roadside orcab signals according as to whether the signal is permanently located ata fixed point or is carried on the train and actuated or controlled bycontacting means orinductive means co-operatively located at pointsalong the roadside. It is the customary practice to make changes in theinformation. to be conveyed, by means of contacts operated mechanicallyor by manually operated or lever controlled power operated switch andlock operating mechanisms.

prised of track rails o In some cases, contactor arrangements connectedby rod to a rod attached to the track switch points are provided to movewhen the track switch points move. In any case, changes in the circuitscontrolling the conveyance of the required information concerning theposition of the switch are made by themovement of track switch-boxcontacts.

In the arrangements above referred to it will be noted that the objectsought is to provide for the selection of the required information andthis is done by means of switch box contacts.

My present invention provides a system incorporated and embodied withthe switch rails and circuits which eliminates track switch box contactsand'thereby reduces the cost of maintenance and further increases thesafety of traflic by more reliable operation which I provide for in theeffects of control by magnetic means.

My invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing which is partly in perspective but wholly schematic. The figuresin the drawing are shown greatly disproportioned to illustrate the broadidea underlying my invention sufiiciently clear and are shown thus morewith the View of making the functions of my invention easily understoodthan with the idea of showing exact construction or arrangement of partswhich would preferably be employed in practice. I wish it to beunderstood that the design of interlocking devices is so shown hereinonly to illustrate the operation of my invention and which can-veryreadily be modified for application to other types without departingfrom the novelty and spirit and scope of my invention.

Referring to the drawing-J have shown in Fig. 1 the preferredapplication of my invention and in Fig. 2 a modification in installationdetails. In the usual conventional manner I have shown a section oftrack comand 4 and leading therefrom a movable track switch comprised ofmovable track switch rails 5 and 6. The

track switch rails 5 and 6 are rigidly con nected by insulated operatingrod 7 so that whatever movement is given to rod 7 will be responded toby switch rails 5 and 6 in unison. for a continuing movement of trafficon the straight track and this position of the switch rails I term thenormal position of the switch. When movement is given, as hereinafterdescribed, to rod 7 in the direction of arrow 8 the switch rails 5 and 6will take up the reverse position at which time tra llic moving on trackrails 3 and t would be given the diverging movement as is readily apparent to anyone ordinarily skilled in this art. Rod 7' is connected tothe switch operating and locking mechanism S M by means of throw bar 9and throw bar 9, when operated by S M, is theimedium whence motion isimparted by S M, whereby the track switch rails are set in the normal orreverse position. Rod 7 is insulated to permit the workingof a trackcircuit, not shown, which includes the track rails and switch rails aswill be appreciated.

I have also shown a lever 10 with its restrainingindicating device 11,together with a source of energy 12 for controlling the movement of theswitch and lock operating mechanism S M.

The track switch rails 5 and 6 respond to motion communicated to rod 7by mechanismS M which is controll d by lever 10 which lever in itsmovement completes the control. circuit 13-Sl /l1 l12-15 or16-SM1412-+15 by means of insulated contact wiper 17 and the switchrails are moved to a position to correspond to the position of the leveras will be appreciated. The switch control circuit, including means at SM (not shown) to open the circuit when the switch and lock mechanism hasoperated is fundamental to all interlocking systems and forms no part ofmy invention.

Associated with the lever is the customary indicating device 11 andlever contact 18 W'llCll device confines the lever travel to arestricted movement defined by the limits of slot 19 unless theindicating device 11 be energized. The means for controlling device 11embodies my invention, by virtue of the track switch rails 5 and 6magnetically controlling the rotational movement of relay 20. Thecircuit for the control of indicating device 11 will .be describedhereinafter.

The energ supply for the operation of my inventionoriginates atgenerator 21 and the main supply wires 22, 23 are connect d (when mainswitch 24 is closed) to energize the bus mains 25 and 26.

In my invention to produce selective rotational movement of. relay 1provide open magnetic circuits 27 and 27 and magnetic circuit closers 28and 28. The open As shown, the track switch is set' magnetic circuits 27and 27 are located stationary on the track structure as shown and themagnetic circuit closers 28 and 28 are spring supportingly mounted onthe movable switch rails 5 and 6 by means of spring brackets orresilient members 29 and 29 The purpose of spring mounting the magneticclosers will be clear from the following:it is a well known fact that itis practically impossible to maintain track work and track switcheswithout a small lateral and longitudinal movement and to the extent thatsaid movement does not introduce a hazard with respect to safety oftraffic said movement must be permitted, hence I provide members 29 and29 to allow for said movement within the limits of safety. For the samereason I provide a magnetic circuit closer which is longer (asillustrated) than the open magnetic circuit to permit of a smalllongitudinal movement.

Stationary on the open magnetic circuits I show primary coils 30 and 30and secondary coils 31 and 3 the secondary coils are mounted ininductive relation to the corresponding primary coils as will beobserved.

Open magnetic circuits 27, 27, magnetic circuit closers 28, 28, primarycoils 30, 30 and secondary coils 31, 31 are all substantially identicalin kind.

Primary coils 30, 30 are included in a primary circuit which receivesits energy supply from bus mains and 26 via wire 32, element 33, wire3st, primary coil, wire primary coil, and wire 36-thus it will be notedthat the primary coils are in series. Alternating current flowin in saidprimary circuit causes thesetting up of an alternating magnetic field inopen magnetic circuit 27 and 27.

Secondary coils 31 and 31 are included in a secondary circuit comprisedoi wire 37, secondary coil, wire 38, secondary coil, wire 39 and winding4-0 of relay 20. Attention is here directed to the fact that secondarycoils 31 and 31 are connected in opposition to each other, and by this Imean that the current induced in the secondary coil 81 by primary coilwill always be opposed by the current induced in secondary coil 31" byprimary coil 30" and vice versa.

Bus mains, wires 25 and 26, which constitute part of the primary circuitas aforesaid, are also the energy supply via wires ll and a2 to windingof relay 20. The magnetic field set up in winding .43 in response to thepassage of alternating current is continuously in effect and ofcharacteristics which combine with the characteristics of winding 4:0(when energized) to produce a rotating field in one directionor theotheras determined by the direction ot current flow in effect in thesecondary circuit.

The relative direction of current flow induced in the secondary circuit,as compared to the direction of current fiow in the primary circuit, isfixed by the definite and wellknown laws of mutual induction andtheoperation of-my invention will be clear from the followingdescription. 8' V Alternating current flowing through primary coils 30,30 generates a magnetic flux in the open magnetic circuits 27, 27 inproportion to the number of turns in the coils, the rate of current flowin the circuit and the reluctivity 'of the magnetic circuit. With theswitch rails in the position shown, open magnetic circuit 27 is closedby magnetic circuit closer 28 and open magnetic circuit 27 is open, byvirtue of magnetic circuit closer 28 being spaced apart therefrom, andit clearly follows that thereluctivity of magnetic circuit 27 will belower and the magnetic flux correspondingly greater than will be thecase with magnetic circuit27 Now, since secondary coil 31 is linked bythe flux generatedby primary coil 30 it is evident that, inaccordancewith the well-known principle of mutual induction, analternating current will be induced in coil 31, which is included in theclosed secondary circuit, and hence, induced current will flow in saidsecondary circuit. Even though a current is induced in the secondarycircuit by primary coil 30 the induced current due to primary coil 30will greatly preponderate by virtue of open magnetic circuit 27 beingclosed by magnetic circuit closer 28.

I desire to specifically point out .at this time, that, magnetic circuitclosers 28 and 28 upon being moved, substantially in response to themovement of the track switch, into engagement with the correspondingmagnetic circuits 27 and 27, do not make a wipe contact so customary incircuit controllers. All that is necessary in my device is that themagnetic circuit closers 28 and 28 shall butt up to the correspondingmagnetic circuits and thus I have eliminated that part of the customarypreliminary movement of the switch necessary for the maintenance of wipecontacts and thereby insured a greater safety of train movement due tothe closer adjustment available with my system. This butt contact is anexclusive feature of my invention and the term butt contact orequivalent in the claims is to be understood as embracing this featurewhether installed as a switch box or other circuit controller. 7

The relative direction of fiow of current induced in the secondarycircuit, as compared to the direction of current flow in the primarycircuit, is fixed by definite and well-known electrical laws from whichit will be clear that when coils 30 and 31 are Now, when current flowsin the secondarycircuit a responsive magnetic field is set up by winding40-of the rotatlng field dev ce,

relay 20, which co-operatively acts with the magnetic field due towinding 43 to produce a rotating fieldin said rotating field device andfor purposes of illustration only I will assume that the said rotatingfield causes rotation of rotor 46 in the direction indicated by arrow47.

Motion imparted to the throw rod 7 in the direction'of arrow 8 movesswitch rails 5 and 6 to the reverse position; this results in magneticcircuit closer 28 being moved away from magnetic circuit 27 and in magnetic circuit closer 28 being moved to close magnetic circuit 27. Nowthe situation exists that the flux generated in the mag netic circuits27, 27, by the flow of current in the primarycir'cuit, is greater in 27than in 27 and since secondary coil 31 is now linked by a greater fluxthan before it clearly follows that the current flowing in the secondarycircuit is due to coil 31 and the secondary current fiow is reversed, asshown by arrow 48 adjacent wire 37 I have explained as to the productionof the rotating field with relative direction of current flow in thesecondary circuit and it will be clear without further description,that, according to well-known electrical laws, a current relativelyreversed in its direction of flow through one of the windings of atwo-phase rotating field device will produce amagnetic field which willco-operate with the magnetic fieldof the other winding to produce arotating field in the opposite direction and therefore, oppositerotation of the rotor47. Y

Rotation of rotor 46 is confined to certain limits defined bycompressible spring stops 49, 49 located in the relay enclosure. Thepurpose of compressible stops 49, 49, is to provide a mechanical load orcounterweight for rotor 46 and when, for any reason, current flow in thesecondary circuit ceases, or is reduced to a predetermined point, rotor46, by virtue of the counterweight, is rotated back to its startingpoint, that is, to a neutral position.

Rotation of rotor 46 imparts relative motion to the insulated rack orbaroO for the purpose of moving'contacts wipers to effect the control ofthe several circuits hereinafter explained. I Y

It is here pointed out that, although the position-of the switch railsindicates that the relay should be closed in the up position,

conventionally speaking, because the rotor would have responded in thedirection of the arrow, it is shown in the neutral position for purposesof clarity only.

Vith the switch rails5 and 6 in the position shown contact bar 50,moving in response to rotation of rotor 46 in the direction of arrow 47,moves the contact wiper 51 to complete the circuit for lever indicatingdevice 11 via circuit 26 contact wiper 51 wire 52 lever contact 18 wire53 indicating device 11 wire 54 thence to wire 25, thus energizing saiddevice and permitting the continuation of the lever movement otherwiserestrained in its travel by slot 19. At the same time contact wiper 55completes the circuit to energize (green) indicator lamp 56 via wires 26and 57 to wire 25. Also, at the same time, contact wiper 58 opens the(red) indicator lamp 59 by virtue of interrupting the circuit, wire 26contact 58 and wires 60 and 25. When the switch is moved to the reverseposition the lever movement is in terrupted by slot 19 until the switchhas completed its full movement whereatter rotor 46 operates in thereverse direction to complete the lever indication circuit as before andto energize (yellow) indicator lamp 61 via wire 62. It will beunderstood, that red) indicator lamp 59 is energized at all times wheneither indicator lamps 56 and 61 are not energized.

Magnetic circuits 27, 27 with coils 30, 30 and 31, 31, are suitablycontained in a protective casing and located stationary on the track.Said casing, however, has provision whereby magnetic circuit closers 28,28 may be appropriately brought into contact with the magnetic circuitpole faces.

I provide element 33, which is perferably an inductive resistance, tolimit the current flow in the primary circuit when the mag neticcircuits are open, due to the switch being moved from one position tothe other, but it will be appreciated that I may eliminate this elementwithout aflecting the spirit and scope of my invention.

It should be noted that, wherein I have provided the magnetic circuitclosers 28, 28 longer than the open magnetic circuit to provide for asmall longitudinal movement of the switch rails, I have also provided ameans to detect an excess longitudinal movement of the track switchrails by virtue of a closed magnetic circuit being opened longitudinallyas well as laterally.

Attention is here directed to the fact: 1st-that lamps 56, 59 and 61 areofa distinctive color, for example, green, red and yellow or they may bewithout color in which case they are mounted in a case suitablychambered to prevent interference and said chambers provided withcolored glass or lenses, but in any event they constitute a signal:Qnd-that my system provides for indicating lateral and longitudinalmovement of the track switch rails with one and the same magneticcircuit: 3rdthat the secondary circuit may be used alone when theproduction of a rotating field is not required: tththat when magneticcircuits are open a balance is created in the secondary circuit and nocurrent flows: 5.ththat wherever in the specification and claimsreference is made to the full or extreme positions of the trafiiccontrolling devices or switches or track members or the like I wish itto be understood that the terms are used in a broad sense so as toinclude permitting a predetermined partial movement within the limits ofsafety: 6.ththat the indication of the tra'tlic controlling device orthe like may beut-ilized in the form of an indication lock or magnet orby signal indication.

In the description of my invention, hereinbetore, I have selected simplecircuits and the illustrations of simple forms and readily manifestadaptations and it will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the artthat they do not exhaust the many obviousramifications and modificationswhich I have made or which anyone skilled in the art could make withoutdeparting from the novelty, spirit, and scope of the broad ideaunderlying my invention.

Having thus described vmy invention, I claim as new and :desire tosecureby Letters Patent:

1. In a railway traific controlling system, a circuit and a source ofenergy for supplying current to the circuit, means for inducing currentfromsaid circuit into an additional circuit, and a plurality of buttcontact. magnetic means for controlling the relative direction and valueof current flow in said additional circuit.

2. In a railway traliic controlling system, a circuit and a source ofenergy for supplying current to the circuit, means for inducing currentfrom said circuit into an additional circuit including a winding of arotating field device, another winding of said device receiving energyfrom aseparate circuit, and a plurality of butt contact magnetic circuitcontrollers, for controlling the directional rotation of said device.

3. In a railway traflic controlling system, a circuit and a source ofenergy for supplying current to the circuit, means for inducing currentfrom said circuit into an additional circuit, a device responsive to arotating field, one component of said rotating field produced by currentfrom the source of energy, the other component produced by current insaid additional circuit, said device selectively controlling circuits,and a plurality of butt contact magnetic circuit controllers, forcontrolling said device.

4C. In a railway tra'tlic controlling system, a circuit and a source ofenergy for supplying current to the circuit,,an additionalcircuitincluding a relay, a plurality of means for inducing current from saidcircuit into said additional circuit, one of said means inducing currentflow relatively opposite to the current flow produced by the othermeans, and a plurality of butt contact magnetic circuit controllers forcontrolling the relative operation of said relay by control of saidopposition means.

5. In a railway trailic controlling system, a primary circuit includinga source of energy, a secondary circuit at times inductively receivingdirectional current from said primary circuit, at other timesinductively receiving reverse directional current from said primarycircuit, said change in current direction being controlled by aplurality of butt contact magnetic means without opening the circuit.

6. In a railway trafiEic controlling system,

a track, a track switch, a mechanism for actuating said switch, aprimary c1rcu1t 1ncludmg a source of energy, a secondary c1rcuitincluding a relay, and butt contact magnetic means actuated by saidswitch for controlling said relay.

7. In a railway traflic controlling system, I

a track, a track switch, a mechanism for actuating said switch, aprimary circuit including a source of energy, a secondary circuitreceiving induced current from said primary circuit, and butt contactmagnetic means controlled by the actuation of said track switch forcontrolling the'directional flow and value of current induced in saidsecondary circuit.

8. In a railway traflic controlling system, a track, an operable trackmember, means including a source of energy for operating said trackmember, a primary circuit in cluding a source of energy, a secondarycircuit adapted to receive induced current from said primary circuit,and a plurality of butt contact magnetic means associated with saidtrack member for controlling the directional flow and value of currentinduced in said secondary circuit.

9. In a railway traffic controlling system, a track, an operable trackmember, a primary circuit including a source of energy, means includinga source of energy for operating said track member, a secondary cir cuitadapted to receive induced current from said primary circuit, and aplurality of butt contact magnetic means associated with said trackmember for controlling the directional flow and value of current inducedin said secondary circuit, one of said "magnetic means being spacedapart from the other magnetic means.

10. In a railway traflic controlling system, a track, an operable trackmember, means including a source of energy for operating said trackmenber, a primary circuit receiving energy from a separate source, asecondary circuit adapted to receive induced current from said primarycircuit, and a plurality of butt contact magnetic means associated withsaid track member for detecting an overmovement of said track member,said means adapted to permit a partial movement of said track member.

12. In a railway traflic controlling system, a track, a movable trackmember, a mechanismadapted'to move said member, a circuit including asource of energy for supplying current to said mechanism, a movablelever for controlling said circuit, an indicating device adapted whendeenergized to interrupt the free movement of said lever, a circuit forcontrolling said device, and a plurality of butt contact magnetic meansassociated with said track member for con trolling the last mentionedcircuit.

13. In a railway trafiic controlling system, a track, a movable trackmember, a mechanism adapted to move said member, a circuit including asource of'energy for supplying current to said mechanism, a movablelever for controlling said circuit, an indicating device adapted whendeenergized to interrupt the free movement of said lever,

a circuit for controlling said device, and a plurality of butt contactmagnetic means associated with said track member for controlling thelast mentioned circuit, part of said means stationary on the track andpart responsiv ely movable with saidtrack member.

14:. In a railway trafiic controlling system, atrack, a movable trackswitch, a mechanism adapted to move and lock said switch,

a circuit including a source of energy for supplying current to saidmechanism, a movable lever for controlling said circuit, an indicatingdevice adapted when deenergized to interrupt the free movement of saidlever, a circuit for controlling said device, and a plurality of buttcontact magnetic means associated with said track switch for controllingthe last mentioned circuit, part of said means stationary on the trackand part responsively movable with said track switch, magnet-i9 meanscooperatively iii acting to prevent continuation of an interrupted levermovement unless said track switch has moved to the full position.

15. In a railway tratiic controlling system,

a track including a track switch, means including a source-of energy anda mechanism for operating said switch, a signal and con trolling ClICUilJStO indicate theposition of said switch. and butt contact magneticmeans 7 associated with said switch for selectively controlling saidsignal. 7

l6.'In combination, in a railway traiiic controlling system, a track, amovable track switch,and cooperating butt contactelectroinagnetic'circuit controllers located part on the "track and partincluded with the'track switchfor the=purpose of controlling a circu-it17. In combination, in a railway traflic controlling 'system, a track, atrack switch comprised of movable switch rails connected by tyingmembers for simultaneous movement, means for moving said switch rails,and cooperating butt contact magnetic means part stationaryand partincluded with each of said movable switch rails for controlling 23. In arailway traliic controlling system, a track, a track switch, and meansfordetecting longitudinal movements of said switch.

24. In ii -railway tra'fiic controlling system,

a track, an operable track switch capable of normal and reversepositions, means for operating and locking said switch, and means forindicating a plurality of lateral positions of said switch, said meansdetecting an excess'longitudinalmovement of said switch.

25. Ina railway traiiic cont-rolling system, a track, a track switch,and means for detecting longitudinal movement of said switch in eitherdirection.

26. In a-railway trailic controlling system, a track, a track switch,and means for detecting longitudinal movement of said switch,-said meansarranged to permit a predetermined longitudinal movement.

27. In a. railway tra-tfio controlling system, a track, a track switch,and means for indicating the position of said switch, said means alsoacting to detect longitudinal movement of said switch.

28. Ina railway traffic controlling system, a track switch, and meansfor indicating the position and longitudinal movement of saidincombination cooperating for controlling "said translating means, saidtranslating means'lcontrol'ling said indication apparatus.

19. In a railway traiiic controlling system,

a traclgl a: track switch comprised at two point 'rails,.;me'ansi *forlactuating; said switch,- aprimary circuit includinga source 'of energygasecondary circuit, and butt contact magnetic circuit controlling meansincluded with each of said point rails for controlling said secondarycircuit 20. Ina railway traiiiccontrolling :system,

a track, attack switch comprised of two p ointrails, means for actuatingsaid switch, I

and butt contact magnetic circuit controlling means included Wltll eachrail for indicating the position of the point rails.

21. In a railway traffic controllingsystem, a track, a trackswitch=comprised of two switch rai-ls, and-meansincluding a butt contactmagnetic circuit cont-roller associated with each rail for'indicatingthe full position of" each switch rail by a distinctive signal.

22'. In a railw'ay traliic controlling system, a track, a track switchcomprised of two point. rails and butt contact magnetically controlledmeans associated with each pointrail for indicating eachfull position ofsaid track switch a distinctive signal, said means-alsopreventingthedisplay of a distinctive signal if either point rail is not in a fullposition,

switch, said means permitting predetermined partial movement from saidposition and predetermined longitudinal movement of said switch withoutaffecting the indication.

29. Ina railway vtrafiic controlling system, a track, a track switch,and means for detectinglongitudinal movement-oat said switch, part ofsaid means-included with each of the switch rails.-

30; In combinatiom-a track switch, indicationapparatus therefor,electromagnetic meansresponsive to reversals of polarity of current forcontrolling said indication apparatus,a source of current, andtransformer means-having stationary primary and secondary windings, saidprimary windings energized from said source and said secondary windings:connected with said electromagnetic means, said transformer means having.movable parts which causes the transformer means to deliver current ofone polarity or the other according as said switch occupies one positionor another.

31. In a railway switch and signal system,

a primary circuit including a source of energy for supplying current tothe circuit, a secondary circuit including one or more secondary coilsand a winding of a device responsive to a rotating field, and buttcontact electromagnetic means for inducing current from said primarycircuit into said secondary circuit at one or more points.

' 82. In combination, in a railway trafiic controlling system, a track,a movable track switch, and butt contact electromagnetic means operatedby said switch and located part on the track and part with the trackswitch for the purpose of controlling the display of signals accordingas the track switch occupies one position or another or an intermediateposition.

83. In combination, in a railway traflic controlling system, a trackincluding a track switch, means including a source of energy and amechanism for operating and locking said switch, a signal andcontrolling circuits 10 to indicate the position of said switch, andbutt contact electromagnetic means actuated by said switch formagnetically selectively controlling said signal.

Signed at New York city, in the county of 15 New York and State of NewYork this 24th day of March, A. D. 1922.

GILBERT C. WHITNEY.

